When women go through menopause, their bodies change in ways that might affect multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. Researchers studied 16 women with MS and 15 healthy women to understand how fat tissue chemicals called adipokines influence inflammation and MS severity during menopause. They found that certain fat-related proteins and vitamin D levels were connected to inflammation markers in women with MS. Interestingly, when women took hormone therapy for a year, one specific protein called adipsin decreased, suggesting it might be useful for tracking MS progression. This research suggests that understanding these body chemistry changes could help doctors personalize treatment for menopausal women with MS.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How chemicals produced by fat tissue affect inflammation and MS severity in women going through menopause, and whether hormone therapy changes these chemicals
  • Who participated: 16 women with MS who were going through menopause and 15 healthy women of similar age for comparison
  • Key finding: Women with MS showed connections between fat tissue chemicals (especially a protein called leptin) and inflammation markers in their blood. A protein called adipsin appeared to track MS nerve damage and decreased when women took hormone therapy for a year.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a menopausal woman with MS, your doctor might eventually be able to use blood tests measuring these fat-related proteins to better understand your disease and track how well treatments are working. However, this is early research and more studies are needed before these tests become routine.

The Research Details

Researchers compared blood samples and health measurements from 16 menopausal women with MS to 15 healthy women of the same age. They measured various proteins in the blood that come from fat tissue, as well as inflammation markers and MS-related damage indicators. For the women with MS who started hormone therapy, researchers tracked how these fat-tissue proteins changed over 12 months of treatment.

This design allowed researchers to see which proteins were connected to inflammation and MS severity, and whether hormone therapy affected these proteins. The researchers used statistical methods to determine if these connections were real and independent of other factors like age or vitamin D levels.

The study was relatively small but focused specifically on the menopause transition in MS, which is an understudied area that affects many women.

Menopause is a time when women’s bodies undergo significant hormonal changes that can affect their immune system and MS symptoms. Understanding how fat tissue chemistry changes during menopause and how it relates to MS inflammation could lead to better, more personalized treatments. This research bridges two important areas: menopause biology and MS disease management.

This is a small, focused study that provides preliminary findings rather than definitive answers. The researchers used established measurement techniques and controlled for other factors that might affect results. The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning other experts reviewed the work. However, the small sample size means results should be confirmed in larger studies before changing clinical practice.

What the Results Show

In women with MS, researchers found strong connections between body weight/fat distribution and inflammation markers in the blood. Specifically, the ratio of two fat-tissue proteins (leptin and adiponectin) correlated with three inflammation markers: C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha, and interleukin-6. These connections remained even after accounting for age and other factors.

Vitamin D levels showed an inverse relationship with inflammation—women with lower vitamin D had higher inflammation markers. This finding was consistent across multiple inflammation measurements.

Most notably, a protein called adipsin showed a strong connection to nerve damage markers in MS (neurofilament light chain). When women with MS took hormone therapy, adipsin levels decreased significantly at 3 months and continued to decrease at 12 months, suggesting this protein might be useful for monitoring disease progression.

The study found that adipokine imbalance (meaning the fat-tissue proteins were out of balance) was associated with systemic inflammation in women with MS. The healthy control women did not show these same strong connections, suggesting these relationships are specific to MS. The findings suggest that multiple factors—fat distribution, vitamin D status, and hormone levels—work together to influence inflammation in menopausal women with MS.

Previous research has shown that menopause affects MS symptoms in some women, but the mechanisms weren’t well understood. This study adds to growing evidence that fat tissue plays an important role in immune function and MS disease activity. The finding about adipsin is novel and suggests a new potential biomarker for MS monitoring. The vitamin D findings align with existing research showing vitamin D’s importance in MS.

The study included only 31 participants, which is a small number for drawing broad conclusions. The research focused specifically on menopausal women with MS, so findings may not apply to younger women with MS or men with MS. The study didn’t include a control group taking placebo hormone therapy, so some changes might be due to other factors. The researchers measured proteins at specific time points rather than continuously, which might miss important changes. Finally, this is observational research showing associations, not proof that these proteins directly cause inflammation or disease progression.

The Bottom Line

Current evidence suggests that menopausal women with MS should maintain adequate vitamin D levels (though optimal levels for MS remain debated). Maintaining a healthy weight may help reduce inflammation, though this study doesn’t prove weight loss will improve MS. These findings are preliminary and shouldn’t change current MS treatment decisions without discussion with your neurologist. More research is needed before adipsin testing becomes a standard part of MS care.

This research is most relevant to menopausal women with MS and their neurologists. Women approaching menopause with MS should be aware that hormonal changes may affect their disease. The findings may eventually be relevant to women considering hormone therapy for menopause symptoms. This research is less immediately relevant to younger women with MS or men with MS, though some principles about fat tissue and inflammation may apply broadly.

Changes in adipsin levels appeared within 3 months of starting hormone therapy, suggesting relatively quick biological responses. However, clinical improvements in MS symptoms may take longer and vary between individuals. Any changes in MS disease activity typically require months to years of observation to confirm.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track vitamin D supplementation and serum levels (if available through your doctor), body weight/BMI monthly, and any changes in MS symptoms or fatigue. Note when starting or stopping hormone therapy to correlate with symptom changes.
  • If menopausal and diagnosed with MS, work with your doctor to optimize vitamin D levels through supplementation or sun exposure. Monitor weight trends and discuss with your healthcare team whether maintaining a healthy weight might help manage inflammation. If considering hormone therapy, discuss with both your gynecologist and neurologist how it might affect your MS.
  • Over 6-12 months, track the relationship between vitamin D levels, weight, and MS symptom severity. Work with your neurologist to establish baseline inflammation markers if possible, then recheck periodically. If starting hormone therapy, note any changes in MS symptoms, fatigue, or disease activity at 3, 6, and 12 months.

This research is preliminary and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare team. The study involved a small number of participants, and findings need confirmation in larger studies. If you have multiple sclerosis and are approaching or in menopause, discuss these findings with your neurologist and gynecologist before making any changes to your treatment plan. Vitamin D supplementation and weight management decisions should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider based on your individual health status. This summary is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.